History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v3.c52.32.1

v3.c52.32.1

There are five offerings commencing the next day after the Pavitra sacrifice, one each on one day. Then on the Full Moon of Phālguna there is an iṣṭi to Anumati (a puroḍāśa being offered). Vide Kāt. XV. 1. 9 and Āp. XVIII. 8. 10. There is an offering to Nirṛti prepared from the particles of grains that fall to the west of the śamyā from the mill-stone when the grains for the puroḍāśa to Anumati are being ground. The particles are taken in the sruva and a firebrand being lighted from the dakṣiṇa fire, the offering is made to the south of the vihāra on that fire-brand or on some saltish land. On the full moon day of Phālguna are begun the cāturmāsyas (i. e. first the Vaiśvadeva, then after four months Varuṇapraghāsas and so on). This goes on for one year. Between the parvans of the cāturmāsyas, the monthly full moon and new moon sacrifices are performed. The cāturmāsyas come to an end with the Śunāsīrīya parva on the first of the bright half of Phālguna. After that several rites follow such as the Pañcavātīya in five fires in the four directions and in the middle (Āp. XVIII. 9. 10–11, Kāt. XV. 1. 20–21), the Apāmārga-homa (Āp. XVIII. 9. 15–20, Kāt. XV. 2. 1 ff.). Then there are twelve offerings called 'ratninām²⁶⁴⁸ havīṁṣi' performed on twelve days one after another in the houses of the 'ratnas' (jewels) viz. of the sacrificer himself, his queens and state functionaries (Kāt. XV. 3 and Āp. XVIII. 10).